"Injury prevented Beaty from carrying momentum from a stellar 2017 over into his 2018 campaign with Tulsa. Though his numbers didn’t stand out http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , Beaty is still one of the better contact hitters in the system and could contend for a reserve role at some point in 2019.Though Beaty may be short on tools compared to the other hitters in this prospect tier, his pitch recognition and barrel control make him a good fit to combat the high strikeout pitchers in the modern game. Beaty’s set-up in the box is relaxed and easy, with a short load and quick trigger and a swing plane built for gap to gap line drives. His power is just average to fringe given the need for him to manage a corner position, and his overall offensive production likely couldn’t carry first base full time.To his credit, Beaty has been flexible defensively and the Dodgers have worked to broaden his positional proficiency. Beaty played first, second, third and left field in 2018, with first and third being his best positions. He is an average athlete with enough arm to fill a part time four corners role.While Beaty may not have the tools to profile as an every day player, he could carve a long career as a pinch hitter thanks to his ability to make consistent contact. He has enough pop to take a couple of starts a week in an outfield corner or first base, and could sustain longer playing time as a more contact oriented hitter amidst a more strikeout prone lineup.Already 25 years old, Beaty is more or less a finished product physically, and only needs better health and more AAA at bats this season to prepare for a future big league role. Beaty might fit best with a rebuilding club as a “safer” bat to balance against younger and more mercurial talent. The Dodgers are deep in corner bats, which lengthens his odds with Los Angeles, but his hitting skill set is unique enough to give him a chance to break through in the next two seasons.17.Josh Sborz (RHP)A move to the bullpen seemed to be the best fit for Sborz’s stuff Brandon McCarthy Jersey , pushing his strikeout rate into attractive territory and helping him earn a spot on the 40 man roster.While his velocity is still just average to slightly above, his aggressive mound mentality helps his stuff play up and should make a positive impact on a club even in middle relief. Now sitting more comfortably in the mid 90’s, Sborz can pitch off his fastball effectively with swing and miss potential up in the zone with “rising” action. He can also create deception when throwing down in the zone thanks to an unconventional delivery and high slot.Sborz will use two breaking balls in relief, with the curveball having more swing and miss potential, but the slider likely to get more use based on his command of the pitch. The slider has short break and he keeps the pitch in the zone, though he will lose his release and flatten out the break up in the zone. His curveball has a spike-like action, but can be tough for him to keep in the zone and primarily gets swings as a chase pitch. In relief, Sborz has little need for his change-up.A decorated collegian at Virginia, Sborz has always had an impressive mound presence, and his competitiveness suits him in a short relief role. He doesn’t have the best stuff of the relief prospects in this tier, but he commands his pitches better and still generates satisfactory strikeout rates.As a member of the 40-man roster, Sborz will likely get the chance to make his big league debut in 2019, but the competition for middle relief roles is fierce in the organization.His compete level will make any bullpen better even if he just fills a role in the sixth and seventh innings. Sborz long track record of success from college to pro ball could also make him an attractive trade candidate.16.Connor Wong (C/2B)Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY SportsWhile Wong put up better counting statistics than Jeren Kendall in 2018, like the toolsy outfielder http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , his trouble with contact could hamper his ultimate prospect status. Wong’s batted ball profile still allowed him to impact the game at a high level when putting the ball in play, and his power and athleticism are still rare at the catcher position.Wong came just one home run shy of a 20-20 double-home run campaign in 2018, with a high lift swing and good strength boosting his power.He sells out for pop, costing him average, but that isn’t the only factor contributing to his high K rate.Wong has a tendency to get too rotational in his swing which can cause him to pull off the ball and leave him susceptible to pitches on the outer half of the zone.He also has a more complicated two tap timing mechanism that can be fouled up when he fails to properly diagnose pitches.Wong was lauded for his versatility when he was drafted out of Houston, but he primarily spent the 2018 season behind the plate.He is still athletic enough to handle second or third in a pinch.Wong is a fairly sound receiver and his low to the ground build and crouch help him set a good target and frame pitches down in the zone.Wong’s California League campaign should be enough to bump him up to Double-A in 2019, but the catching position gets more crowded above that.He will probably never hit for much average, but his power and versatility might make him a capable spot starter and bench bat on a first division club.The Dodgers are also deep enough in catching talent to make Wong a potential trade candidate as well, though he’s more likely to move up the organizational depth chart with more attractive trade candidates ahead of him in Triple-A.2019 Top Prospects 16-104RKNAMEPOSOD AGELEVELOVERALLRISKCEILINGPROSCONSRKNAMEPOSOD AGELEVELOVERALLRISKCEILINGPROSCONS NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets said they’ll give $100,000 retention bonuses to six players at spring training with minor league contracts, assuring depth by keeping outfielders Carlos Gomez, Rajai Davis and Gregor Blanco, left-hander Hector Santiago, catcher Devin Mesoraco and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.Just three other players received the retention bonus offers before Saturday’s noon EDT deadline: Chicago White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana Jose Ramirez Jersey , San Diego catcher Chris Stewart and Toronto right-hander Bud Norris.Players will receive the bonus by April 15 and can start the season in the minor leagues. A player has until May 28 to ask for his release if not added to the 40-man roster by June 1.The deadline was Saturday for teams to make decisions on players who exercised free agency rights after the World Series and then agreed to minor league deals. Teams could inform the player they will be added to the big league roster by opening day next Thursday, offer the retention bonus or release the player.Texas told Logan Forsythe, Jeanmar Gomez and Hunter Pence they will make the opening-day roster, and Pittsburgh notified Melky Cabrera and left-hander Francisco Liriano.Other players told they’ll make the opening-day roster include Detroit second baseman Gordon Beckham, Miami outfielder Curtis Granderson, Cincinnati shortstop Jose Iglesias, San Francisco outfielder Gerardo Parra, Colorado first baseman Mark Reynolds and St. Louis catcher Matt Wieters.Released players may re-sign with the same teams or elsewhere. Players released from minor league deals they signed as free agents included shortstop Alcides Escobar and outfielder Eric Young Jr. (Baltimore); right-hander Junichi Tazawa (Chicago White Sox); right-hander Tyler Clippard, infielder Ryan Flaherty and outfielder Matt Joyce (Cleveland); right-hander Randall Delgado and outfielder Brandon Guyer (White Sox); catcher Bobby Wilson (Detroit); right-hander Daniel Hudson (Los Angeles Angels); right-hander Josh Tomlin (Milwaukee); left-hander Tim Collins, first baseman Lucas Duda and infielder Adam Rosales (Minnesota); catcher Drew Butera and infielder/outfielder Andrew Romine (Philadelphia); outfielder Cameron Maybin and catcher Rene Rivera (San Francisco); right-hander Jason Hammel (Texas) and right-hander John Axford (Toronto).